Rubino, Doyle Named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans for 2009–10
Alex F. Rubino ’10 and Brian P. Doyle ’11 were named as ESPN The Magazine College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans. Both received All-NEFC accolades for their performances on the field and being named to the first team All-District for their success in the classroom last week. Rubino, a third-year starter, is receiving the award for the second time, this year on the first team, while Doyle finds his way onto the second team for the first time in his career.
Rubino, a captain in his final season, finished his MIT career with 43 tackles, 19 of which were solo. Additionally, he accounted for one sack and one interception while leading the team with 12.0 tackles for losses. Earlier, the NEFC awarded Rubino the Hal Chalmers Award to the Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Last year, Rubino was named to the second team alongside Thomas J. Franklin ’09.
When asked about how he felt being named to the Academic All-American Team twice, Rubino responded enthusiastically, saying it is “One of the highest recognitions I can get as a student-athlete at MIT. The life of a student athlete has been very important to my development, and this is a great culmination of my efforts while at MIT.”
Doyle provided stability in an inexperienced secondary, playing alongside a rookie, a converted running back, and a safety who missed last year. Doyle anchored the defensive secondary, providing the Cardinal and Grey defense with 44 tackles, 27 solo, 1.5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, and 4 interceptions. Doyle has played all over the field, but has now found a steady, comfortable home as a safety while still returning punts and kicks for the Engineers.
When Doyle first heard he was named to the 2nd Academic All-America team, he was “Pretty shocked and honored at same time. I work hard academically, but around here so many guys who work just as hard as I do so I never knew I’d have the opportunity to be singled out at a place like this. It is a real honor and very humbling to be singled out on a national level.”
Rubino and Doyle follow a storied history of MIT Football players who have received the award from the CoSIDA, who nominate a total of 44 offensive and 44 defensive players across the country in each of the three divisions. According to Rubino, “It is certainly an honor, something that MIT community can be proud of. We’re not a big football school, we have no D1 accolades, but this is something we can be proud of. Going for all student athletes, not only can we get through MIT but we can also excel as athletes. As well, there is no doubt many people are deserving of such an award, but there are only so many they can give to MIT.”
Since 2004, the football program has produced 5 Academic All-Americans aside from Rubino and Doyle, including Kevin M. Yurkerwich ‘06, Christopher W. Ruggiero ‘07, and Franklin.